Tigers' streak grows to six

AUBURN | Six in a row.

The Auburn Tigers added another notch in their winning streak over the University of Alabama on Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium with a 17-10 victory, stretching the streak beyond the career of any Crimson Tide player or coach.

Another group of Alabama seniors finished careers that never included a victory over Auburn. They will leave the UA program without knowing what it means to beat the Tigers, but they certainly know how it feels to leave the Iron Bowl in defeat.

The last time Alabama beat Auburn, the Tide’s current freshmen were in seventh grade.

“It’s hard, man,” senior receiver DJ Hall said. “That’s something you’ve got to live with the rest of your life.”

Defensive lineman Wallace Gilberry, another senior, believes many of Alabama’s wounds sustained against Auburn in his four years have been self-inflicted, both on and off the field. He isn’t willing to concede that the Tigers have been the better team each year.

“I would lie if I said that, but I will say they’ve been the more disciplined team four years in a row,” he said.

“I know one thing: Next year I can bet all 11 guys on the field will be on the same page. I’m just sad I won’t be here for it. I’m not saying we were and I’m not saying we we’re not [on the same page], but you can look at the results on the field.”

Alabama head coach Nick Saban got his first taste of Alabama’s rivalry against Auburn, and was impressed.

“This is a great rivalry, a great football game, and I have never been involved in a football game with as much excitement and enthusiasm as this game,” he said. “It’s disappointing for our fans and the people that support our program that we weren’t able to do a better job and come away with a win.

“But more than anything, I am disappointed for our players. I think our players played their hearts out and really wanted to win this game. There are a lot of upset guys in [the locker room] right now. As a coach you feel like there is something you wish you could have done that would help them be more successful.”

The loss was especially hard on Gilberry.

“Probably one of the toughest things besides the passing of my great grandmother this year,” Gilberry said. “It’s tough, but at the same time it’s just football. There’s a lot of other things going on out there that are more important that this, but from a football perspective it’s tough.”

For the Tide’s younger players, there is hope for the future.

“It just shouldn’t be that way,” sophomore running back Glen Coffee said. “Give credit to Auburn, they’ve got a great team, but it’s not even a want any more. It’s a feeling in your gut.

“You can’t let it happen again. I guarantee it won’t happen.”

Reach Tommy Deas at tommy.deas@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0224.